Multiple gold medal winner and Olympian Elma Muros-Posadas graced the inauguration of the Muntinlupa City government’s Track and Field Oval, which was built based on international standards, on April 19.

Muros-Posadas, who brought honor to the country by winning gold medals in athletics in the Southeast Asian Games and two bronze medals in the Asian Games in 1990 and 1994, joined Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac and city officials at the inauguration ceremony in Barangay Tunasan.

The Muntinlupa Track and Field Oval is an eight-lane 400-meter facility built to meet international standards. It sits on a two-hectare land and has a warm-up lane, soccer field, long and triple jump, shot put, javelin throw, discus throw and water jump. It will also have a control room and bleacher building for athletes.

During her speech, Muros-Posadas became emotional, saying that with the Muntinlupa Track and Field Oval, athletes no longer have to travel far to train unlike during her time.

“Nangangarap lang ako kahit dito na magkaroon . . . nauna pa ang Muntinlupa. Napakahirap po talaga na magbibiyahe. Napakahirap dahil ang travel tapos mga minor pa. Pero sa nagtatrabaho sa sports, tiniis namin yun. Ito nandirito na (I have been dreaming to have it even here . . . Muntinlupa came ahead. It was really hard to travel. It was so hard because of travel plus we were minors. But for those who worked in sports, we endured it. This is already here),” she said.

She said with the track oval in Muntinlupa, athletes will save money and be close to their families.

The track and field oval is part of the Fresnedi administration’s sports projects. Last March 1, the city government inaugurated the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center, which has an Olympic-size swimming pool that can host international competitions.